Stub
Galaxy Express 999 (銀河鉄道９９９ Ginga tetsudō 999?) is a 1979 Japanese anime film directed by Rintaro, based on the manga and anime television series of the same name.
Cast[]
| Character | Original | New World dub | Ocean dub |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tetsuro Hoshino | Masako Nozawa | BJ Ward (Joey Hanakanabobakananda Smith) | Saffron Henderson |
| Maetel | Masako Ikeda | Fay McKay | Kathleen Barr |
| Antares | Yasuo Hisamatsu | Tony Pope (Olaf) | Don Brown |
| Captain Harlock | Makio Inoue | Tony Pope (Cpt. Warlock) | Scott McNeil |
| The Conductor | Kaneta Kimotsuki | Corey Burton | Terry Klassen |
| Queen Emeraldas | Reiko Tajima | BJ Ward | Nicole Oliver |
Additional Voices[]
- Original: Yōko Asagami (Claire), Miyoko Asô (Tochiro's Mother), Toshiko Fujita (Shadow), Tatsuya Jo (Narrator), Ryōko Kinomiya (Queen Promethium), Goro Naya (Dr. Pan[1]), Noriko Ohara (Crown), Hidekatsu Shibata (A Machinery Earl), Kei Tomiyama (Tochirō Ōyama), Akiko Tsuboi (Tetsuro's mother), Takashi Tanaka (Captain of the Guard), Noriko Ohara (Mîmé), Ryūji Saikachi (Taver's master), Kôji Totani
- New World dub: Booker Bradshaw, Gary Seeger, Dicey Adams, Jill Fisher
- Ocean dub: Janyse Jaud (Claire), Daphne Goldrick (Tochiro's Mother), Jane Perry (Shadow), Don Brown (Narrator), Kathleen Barr (Queen Promethium), Gerard Plunkett (Dr. Ban), Willow Johnson (Ryuzu), Paul Dobson (Count Mecha), John Payne (Tochirō Ōyama), Kathleen Barr (Tetsuro's mother), Ward Perry, Karl Willems
Production[]
In the spring of 1978, the anime version of Leiji Matsumoto's Space Pirate Captain Harlock debuted on television produced by Toei Pictures. The TV adaptation of Galaxy Express 999 had been planned to air in the fall of 1978 after Harlock's completion. On July 14, 1978, just three days after the 16th episode of Captain Harlock aired on TV,[3] Farewell to Space Battleship Yamato arrived in theaters. This sequel had taken anime to even greater heights than its prior theatrical installment. Due to Leiji Matsumoto's success and popularity, plans for a film based on Galaxy Express 999 were moving forward. [4]
Toei hadn't produced an animated hit for theaters since their 1971 feature Animal Treasure Island, and no extensive, original stories had been made since then. Even though at the time the majority of theatrical anime features like Space Battleship Yamato or Science Ninja Team Gatchaman consisted of collected or expanded TV episodes, an older range of high school viewers that had been attracted to these films were increasingly displeased with these slapped-together affairs. New stories were being called for and 999 was there at exactly the right time.[4]
However, 999 was just starting its TV series run and the manga was nowhere close to finishing as it ran in Weekly Shōnen King until 1981. The ending of Maetel and Tetsuro's journey was a mystery, as well as the various other secrets that were hidden in the development of the story. Still, the movie version was required to be self-contained, which would result in the manga and TV anime having all the mysteries spoiled ahead of their own conclusions. Leiji Matsumoto had even considered making the feature into two films, the first ending with Tetsuro returning to Earth after getting revenge. Then, the second film having an actual conclusion for the entirety to the series.[4]
Release[]
Galaxy Express 999 was released in Japan on August 4, 1979 where it was distributed by Toei Company.Stub[2] It was the highest grossing film of 1979 in Japan.Stub The film was picked up for distribution in the United States by Roger Corman's New World Pictures in 1980 but was shelved until 1982 after test bookings.Stub The film was the first anime film to receive theatrical distribution in the United States after the establishment of anime fandom in the West.Stub The film premiered in America on August 8, 1981.Stub The American version of the film was edited from the original 129 minute running time to 91 minutes and changed characters names such as Tetsuro Hoshino to Joey "Hana-cana-boba-camanda" Smith.Stub
The film's second English-language adaptation was produced by Viz Media and released in 1996.[5] The DVD version of Galaxy Express 999 was released in the United States on June 28, 2011 by Discotek Media. It feature the English subbed and dubbed (Viz dub) versions of the films.[6]
Box office[]
Galaxy Express 999 was 1979's highest-grossing domestic film in Japan, earning a distribution rental income of Template:JPY,[7] equivalent to estimated gross receipts of approximately Template:JPY.[8]
Reception[]
At the third Japanese Academy Awards in 1980, Galaxy Express 999 won the Popularity award for film.[9]
Variety referred to the film as an "attractive Japanese animated sci-fi feature", but noted that "working in a limited animation format, the chief drawback of which is limited movement [...], the film does boast beautifully-colored, elaborate designs. Once one gets used to the lack of fluid, full animation, the imaginative visuals are impressive" and that "pic deserves a second look".Stub
Sequel[]
The film was followed by Adieu Galaxy Express 999, which was released in 1981.Stub
See also[]
- List of Japanese films of 1979
Footnotes[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 スタッフ＆キャスト (in ja). Toei Animation.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 銀河鉄道９９９ (in ja). Einren.org.
- ↑ Space Pirate Captain Harlock (TV) [Episode titles - Anime News Network].
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Discotek Media >Galaxy Express 999 Blu-ray.
- ↑ (October 1998) Galaxy Express 999 Graphic Novel Volume 1. Viz Communications Inc..
- ↑ Discotek Media Adds 3rd Galaxy Express 999 Film – News. Anime News Network (October 4, 2013).
- ↑ (May 2012) キネマ旬報ベスト・テン85回全史 1924-2011, Kinema Junpo ムック. Kinema Junposha. ISBN 978-4873767550.
- ↑ Statistics Of Film Industry In Japan. Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan.
- ↑ 日本アカデミー賞公式サイト (in ja). Japanese Academy Awards.
References[]
- Beck, Jerry (2005). The Animated Movie Guide. Chicago Review Press. ISBN 1569762228.
- (2007) Anime Classics Zettai!: 100 Must-See Japanese Animation Masterpieces. Stone Bridge Press. ISBN 1933330228.
- Macias, Patrick (2003). Anime Poster Art: Japan's Movie House Masterpieces. DH Publishing Inc. ISBN 0972312447.
- (1985) Variety's Complete Science Fiction Reviews. Garland Publishing Inc.. ISBN 978-0-8240-6263-7.
External links[]
- Galaxy Express 999 (film) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
Template:Rintaro